The possible end of the Patriots’ Tom Brady era delivered big numbers for CBS.
Saturday’s Titans-Patriots AFC Wild Card game averaged a 17.1 rating and 31.42 million viewers on CBS, marking the highest rated Saturday Wild Card game since 2016 (Steelers-Bengals: 17.5) and the most-watched since 2014 (Saints-Eagles: 34.36M).
Tennessee’s upset, which peaked with 34.28 million viewers from 11-11:15 PM ET, delivered the fifth-largest Wild Card Saturday audience since the current scheduling format began in 2002.
It also ranks as the most-watched AFC Wild Card game since 2012 (Steelers-Broncos: 42.37M).
Ratings increased 8% and viewership 7% from Seahawks-Cowboys on FOX last year (15.9, 29.38M), and 34% and 38% respectively from Falcons-Rams on NBC in 2018 (12.8, 22.82M).
Compared to last year’s Wild Card game on CBS, Chargers-Ravens in the early Sunday window, ratings increased 11% (from 15.4) and viewership 24% (from 25.38M).
In addition to the overall highs, viewership was the highest for a Patriots playoff game prior to the AFC Championship since their 2016 Divisional Round win over Kansas City (31.50M).
New England had not played a Wild Card game in ten years. Their previous appearance in the round — a 2010 loss to the Ravens in the early Sunday window — averaged a 16.9 and 27.41 million on CBS. Their previous Saturday night Wild Card game — a 2006 win over Jacksonville — had a 13.9 and 22.55 million on ABC.
The game averaged an 8.9 rating in adults 18-49, even with Seahawks-Cowboys last year and up 27% from Falcons-Rams in ’18 (7.0). It also drew a 6.7 in adults 18-34, down a tick from last year’s 6.8 but up 26% from 2018 (5.3).
